Permits

Home  \  Permits

Highway Permit

A Highway Permit is needed...

  • For overweight, over-height, and over-width vehicles and loads.
  • For vehicles and loads that exceed posted weight limits.
  • For vehicles and loads that exceed the legal limits of the Ohio Revised Code or the established and posted load limits on local roads.
Permits do not allow the state legal load limit for the vehicle to be exceeded.
A highway permit is needed from the Engineer's Office whether you will be hauling on county roads or on township roads. Only a permit from the Engineer's Office grants permission to exceed county and township load and dimension limits.

A permit from the Ohio Department of Transportation does not give permission to exceed load and dimension limits on county, township, and city roads and streets.

Anyone planning to transport overweight or oversize loads on roadways (other than State Routes and the Ohio Turnpike) within Erie County should be aware that the Ohio Revised Code Section 4513.34 requires that all vehicles that exceed maximum legal dimensions and weights are required to obtain written permission from the governmental jurisdiction (county, city, township) who has authority over the travel route/road. Without this written authorization from the appropriate jurisdiction, oversize and overweight vehicles may NOT travel on their roadways.

The Erie County Engineer's Office (Erie County Highway Department) issues Highway Permits for overweight and/or oversize loads traveling on roadways maintained by their office. Highway Permits granting authorization for overweight and/or oversize loads to travel various Township roads are also issued by the Erie County Engineer's Office. The Erie County Engineer's Office works closely with the Townships regarding the issuance of the Highway Permits.

Information Required When Requesting A Highway Permit:

  1. Type of load (cargo) being transported
    • GVW needed when requesting a permit to exceed State of Ohio maximum roadway weight limits (80,000 lbs.).
    • Any dimension that exceeds maximum width, length or height.
  2. Destination
    • The Route will be determined by the Engineer's Office.
  3. Vehicle information
    • Make and model
    • License plate
    • Number of axles
  4. Fees
    • Fee will be determined at the time of application.
    • Checks should be made payable to the Erie County Engineer's Office.

How To Obtain A Highway Permit

In Person:
Highway Permits can be applied for in person at the Erie County Engineer's Office located at 2700 Columbus Avenue in Sandusky, Ohio.

Download:
Highway Permits can be applied for by printing and completing the Highway Permit Form and mailing or delivering the Form to the Erie County Engineer's Office located at 2700 Columbus Avenue in Sandusky, Ohio. Unfortunately, electronic submissions are not accepted. All permits must be submitted to the Engineers Office with an original signature.

Access Permit

An Access Permit...

  • Is needed for property access (driveway) to a county road.
  • Must meet requirements of Access Management Manual.
  • Is not needed to perform maintenance to an existing drive. (Includes sealing, adding new gravel and resurfacing.)
Reconstruction of an existing drive may require an Excavation Permit.

How To Obtain An Access Permit

In Person:
Access Permits can be applied for in person at the Erie County Engineer's Office located at 2700 Columbus Avenue in Sandusky, Ohio.

Download:
Access Permits can be applied for by:
  1. Following the Access Management Flow Chart on page 87 at the end of the Access Management Manual.
  2. Printing and completing the correct Forms needed from the following:
  3. Mailing or delivering the Forms to the Erie County Engineer's Office located at 2700 Columbus Avenue in Sandusky, Ohio. Unfortunately, electronic submissions are not accepted. All permits must be submitted to the Engineers Office with an original signature.

Excavation Permit

An Excavation Permit...

  • Is needed when excavation is to be performed within the county right-of-way.
  • Is typically needed when doing utility installation or reconstruction of an existing driveway.
  • There is no fee for an excavation permit.

How To Obtain An Excavation Permit

In Person:
Highway Permits can be applied for in person at the Erie County Engineer's Office located at 2700 Columbus Avenue in Sandusky, Ohio.

Download:
Excavation Permits can be applied for by printing and completing the Excavation Permit Form and mailing or delivering the Form to the Erie County Engineer's Office located at 2700 Columbus Avenue in Sandusky, Ohio. Unfortunately, electronic submissions are not accepted. All permits must be submitted to the Engineers Office with an original signature.
View text-based website